Contact mechanism for typewriter-key punches



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695965 W. W. LASKER ET AL CONTACT MECHANISM FORTYPEWRITER KEY PUNCHES Filed Fb. 10, 1925 C] (for net:

Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

.Nrrs'o STATES P.ATENT orrics.

WILLIAM LASKER'AND CHARLES A. MEZGER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INCL, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Application filed February The present invention relates to electricalcontact mechanism and more particularly to such a mechanism employed asan auxiliary terminal control for a key punch circuit control meanswhich is actuated by the operation of a typewriter key.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedcontact control for punching mechanisms electrically operatedselectively by circuits respectively controlled by typewriter keyswhereby a maximum operating speed is maintained; to provide a contactmechanism for, controlling an electrical circuit wherebythe time thecircuit is. closed is maintained at a minimum for operating purposes; toprovide a circuit control for a typewriter key punch whereby selectionandpperation of a key partially closes a circuit and thereafter thecircuit is automatically completed by an agency operated by thetypewriter; to provide an improved circuit control wherein burning anddamage to electrical contacts is eliminated; and to provide otherimprovements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1

represents a side elevation of on'e form of contact mechanlsin embodylngthe present invention; Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same;Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent respectively parts details; Fig. '7represents a plan of the mechanism; and Fig. 8 represents anillustrative circuit showing the contact mechanism of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention is shown asapplied to a typewriter of standard construction, and is arranged to beoperated by the escapement wheel 10, of such typewriter. The inventiongenerally applies to the closing of an electrical circuit after suchcircuit has been selected and closed at one part by the operation of aselected typewriter key, and the complete closing of the circuit resultsin the selection of a cardpunch corresponding to the key operated. Thusthere are a plurality of punches, a plurality of typewriter keys, and alurality of electrical circuits, (a combination of the-keys and circuitsmaking it possible to employ, if desired,- a less number of punches thanthere are typewriter keys) and the present invention per- 10, 1925.Serial No. 8,310.

tains 'to the closing of the selected circuit for operation. In Fig. 8two circuits 11 and 12, with a common return, two punches 13 and lt-operated respectively by solenoids 15 and 16, and three typewriterkeys 17, 18

- and 19, are shown as illustrative of the application of the inventionto a typewriter key punch system.

As here shown the operation of the key 17 brings the contactor 20 andcontact 21 together to partially close the circuit which includessolenoid 15, while the operation of key 18 brings contactor 22 andcontacts 23 and 24: together to partially close both circuits and uponfinal closingboth solenoids 15 and 16 will be energized, and theoperation of key 19 will bring contactor 25 and contact 26 together topartially close the circuit of solenoid 16 at one point so that ifclosed at another the solenoid will be energized for operation. Thesecircuits have a common battery or source of current 27, a switch 28 forrendering both circuits inoperative at will, and a rheostat 30 forcontrolling the amount of current in the respective circuits. Thisswitch 28 and rheostat 0 are located in the common return conductor 31of the two circuits and this common return conductor 31 is broken toprovide an auxiliary contact 32 and an auxiliary contactor 33, thisarrangement insuring each circuit being maintained open after aselectedtypewriter key has been operated until the contactor 33 comes intoengagement withthe contact 32. 'It is to be understood that theauxiliary control by contact 32 and contactor 33 is in the common returnfor a plurality of circuits so that while there may arranged to besupported upon the frame of the typewriter so that the contact controlparts may be properly held in operative relat on to the escapement wheel10 of thetypewriter. The return conductor 31 has material, which iscarried by a bracket 36 its terminal 37clamped to the screw 34 by a nut38 or other binding means. The contactor 33 is mounted in juxtaposedrelation .to the contact 32upon a flexible conducting bracket 36, andthe normal tendency of the spring 47 is to cause the member 42 to turnin a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2. The action of the spring47, therefore, is to break the contact of the contactor 33 at the propertime. Thecontactor strip is connected to the other end of the returnconductor 31, as will be understood.

In order to move the-contactor strip 40 to bring the contactor 33against the contact 32, the coil spring 45, which is connected at oneend to the hook 44 of the member 42, is connected at its opposite end toa trigger 50, which has a depending arm 51 located in close proximity tothe body of the member 42. This trigger is rigidly connected to thespindle 43 and its arm 51 rests under spring tension against i1 stop lug52 projecting laterally from one side of the member 42. Thus,acounterclockwise rocking of the spindle 43 will be transmitted throughthe trigger 50 and spring 45 to the member 42, and the latter is swungcounterclockwise to bring the contactor 33 against the contact 32, butif there is any continued movement of the spindle in the same directionafter the contact has been made, the spring connection between thetrigger 50 and arm 44 will pernnt the tonne-r to move without moving thelatter.

In order to transmit motion to the spindle- 43, it has keyed orotherwise rigidly fast ened thereon, a trip 53, which projects into thepath of the teeth of the escapement wheel 10, its length being such thatit extends approximately to the pitch line of the teeth of theescapement wheel, so that when the latter is stationary, as shown inFig. 2, the trip 53 will extend between two adjacent teeth andrest inengagement with one of said teeth through the action of the spring 45.lVhen the escapement wheel 10 is operated to move an angular distance ofone tooth, it therefore carries with it the trip 53 and transmits motionto the spindle 43, so that the latter rocks the trigger 50 and causesthe spring 45 to pull the pivoted member 42 in a direction to bring thecontactor 33 against the contact 32 and thus complete the circuit.

This- Where a key punch selecting circuit is completely closed by asingle contact under the control of -a typewriter key, the length oftime such key is held down plays an important part in the proper andcontinuous operation of the system, and when operators unduly prolongthe contact by holding the typewriter key down longer than necessary thecontacts are soon burned away and the system is rendered highlyineflicient. It is an object of the present invention to remove thecircuit control from the operator of the typewriter and provide a meanswhereby all circuits selected will be closed for the same "length oftime and that interval just sufaforesaid wheel until the wheel tooth inengagement with it moves beyond the arc of contact, whereupon the trip53- is released and automatically swings back to its former position butin engagement with the next tooth of the wheel. The movement of the trip53 is transmitted through the spindle 43 to the trigger 50, whichthereupon is swung Y counterclockwise to place tension upon the spring45 to rock the member 42- and cause the strip 40 to bring the contactor33 against the contact 32. This completes the circuit 11 so that thesolenoid 15 is energized to select the punch 13 which corresponds to thekey 17. The circuit 11 is only closed while the escapement wheel 10 ismaking a step movement and is broken by the trip 53 being released fromthe tooth which has picked it up during a step movement of the wheel. Assoon as the trip 53 is released, the spring 47 breaks the contact bypulling the member 42 in a direction to return the contactor 33 to itsnon-contact position, and the spring 45 causes the trip 53 to snap backinto the path of the next tooth of the wheel 10 preparatory toi the nexttype keyaction. In this way the punch control circuits are all closedfor the same length of time and it makes no difference whether the typekey contact is made a long or short. one. In other words, the make andbreak of the circuit take place automatically instead of manually, andthe time the circuit is closed is out of the control of the operator ofthe v typewriter.

to be understood that t e invention is not.

limited to any specific construction, but might be applied to variousforms without departing from the spirit of'the invention or the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we

clai

L ln a typewriter key unch mechanism, the combination of a puncelectrical means for operatin said punch, a circuit including saidmeans, eys for operating a typewriter, a contact means controlled by oneof said keys for partially closing said circuit, and contact meansautomaticall operated for completing the closing of said circuit.

2. In a typewriter key punch mechanism, the combination of a punch,electrical means for operating said punch, a circuit including saidmeans, keys'for operating a typewriter, a contactmeans controlled by oneof said keys for partially closing said circuit, and contact meansoperated by a part of said typewriter other than said key for completingthe closing of said circuit.

3. In a typewriter key punch mechanism, the combination of a punchingmechanism arranged to be controlled from atypewriter, an electric meansfor operating said punching mechanism, a circuit including said meansand normally open at two places, keys for said typewriter, contact meansrespectively controlled by said keys for closv mg one place in saidcircuit, and contact means automatically operated for closing the otherplace in said circuit.

4. In atypewriter key punch mechanism, the combination ofa punchingmechanism arranged to be controlled from a. typewriter, an electricmeans for operating said punching mechanism, a circuit including saidmeans and normally openat two places, keys for said typewriter, contactmeans respectively controlled by said keys for closing one place in saidcircuit, and contact means 0 )erated by a part of said typewriter other1: an said key for closing'the other place in said circuit.

5. In a typewriter key punch mechanism, the combination of a punchingmechanism arranged to be controlled from a typewriter, an electric meansfor operating said punching mechanism, a circuit including said meansand normally open at two places, means controlled by the keys of saidtypewriter for closing one place in said circuit, and means operatingautomatically after said first closing means to complete the closing ofsaid circuit at the other place.

6. In a punching mechanism, the combination of a punch, electric meansfor operating said punch, a circuit including said means, said circuitbeing normally open at two places, manually controlled means for closingsaid circuit at one place, and automatic means for closing said circuitat the othgr place, whereby said punch isoperate 7. In a punchingmechanism, the combination of a plurality of punches, separate electricmeans for operating said punches, normally open circuits including saidmeans and having a normally open common return, keys for respectivelyclosing said circuits in part and simultaneously operating a typewriter,and means actuated by a step-bystep movable part of said typewriter forclosing said common return, whereby any circuit closed by a key iscompleted to actuate the punch operating means controlled by the closedcircuit.

8. In apunching mechanism, the com bination of a plurality of punches,separate electric means foroperating said -punches, normally opencircuits including said means and having a normally open common return,keys for respectively closing said circuits in part and simultaneouslyoperating a typewriter, and means including a step-by-step movable artof the escapement of said typewriter or closing said common return,whereby any circuit closed by a key is completed to actuate the punchoperating means controlled by the closed circuit.

9. In a typewriter key punch mechanism the combination. of a punch,electrical means of one of said keys for partially closing said circuit,and a contact closed automatically as an incident to continued movementof the key for completing the closing of the circuit.

10. In a typewriter key punch mechanism, the combination of a'punch,electrical means for operating said punch, a circuit including saidmeans, keys for operating a typewriter, a contact closed by initialmovement of one of said keys for partially closing said circuit, and acontact closed automatically as an incident to subsequent continuedmovement of the key for completing the closing of the circuit before thetermination of movement of the key.

11. In mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination of akeyboard comprising a plurality of keys, a recording ele mentappropriate to each key, a solenoid for each recording element forcausing it to function, a normally open circuit for each key and itscorrespondingsolenoid, means for selecting a circuit by depression of a.key, and automatically operable means for closing and opening theselected circuit.

12.. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of akeyboard comprising a plurality of keys, a punch element appropriate toeach key, a solenoid for each punch element for causing it to function,a normally open circuit for eachkey and its corresponding solenoid,means for selecting a circuit by depression of a key, and automaticallyoperable means for closing and opening the selected circuit.

Signed, at New Brunswick, county of 10 Middlesex, State of New Jersey,this 22nd day of January, 1925.

\VILLIAM W. LASKER. CHARLES A. MEZGER.

